The progress of Repton's career

To those who have had an opportunity of personal acquaintance with the subject of these Memoirs, it cannot but be interesting to trace the early history and gradual progress of one whose genius and varied accomplishments eventually enabled him to rise to the highest eminence in his profession; or, perhaps, it would be speaking more correctly to say, that his talents enabled him to exalt into an honourable profession, that pursuit which, before his time, had been looked upon but as an occupation for the gardener or nurseryman.